NCAA Tournament 2013: Michigan, Michigan State look like contenders

Michigan forward Mitch McGary (4) celebrates with guard Trey Burke (3) after their 78-53 win over Virginia Commonwealth in a third-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

The first two teams to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 in 2013 know each other all too well. Intrastate and Big 10 rivals Michigan and Michigan State split their regular season matchups this year, and the Wolverines lead the all time series between the two schools 95-76. If we learned anything from today’s games it’s this: Both teams from the Great Lakes State look armed and dangerous to make deep runs in this year’s tournament.

Michigan demolished coach Shaka Smart and VCU this afternoon, 78-53. The Rams and their “Havoc” defense looked like an easy task for Big Blue as the Wolverines bulldozed through it. Kyle Meinke of MLive.com puts it best:

Michigan was deluged with questions about the "Havoc" defense ever since it became clear the Wolverines would play VCU in the third round of the NCAA tournament.

The hype machine was in full effect.

It turned out to be nothing more than that for this skilled Michigan team. Hype.

The fourth-seeded Wolverines sliced through VCU's full-court press with ease in a 78-53 bludgeoning of the Rams. They will face the winner of No. 1 Kansas and No. 8 North Carolina on Friday in Dallas.

After entering the tournament having lost six of their final 12 contests, the one-time top-ranked Wolverines were surrounded with questions and dealt a No. 4 seed in the tournament. But Michigan's starting five controlled and dominated from start to
finish against VCU, looking once again like the team that sat atop the national rankings early in the season.

While it's been a roller-coaster ride for the Wolverines this season, Tom Izzo’s Spartans have been the model of consistency. With the exception of a three-game skid comprising losses to Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan from February 19-March 3 (arguably the toughest stretch for any team this season), Michigan State has been unfailingly excellent. They blew out a Memphis team that won 30 games in the regular season today by a lopsided 70-48 score and look like a sure-fire national title contender.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, right, talks with Michigan State forward Branden Dawson (22) in the second half of a third-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com describes how people from both fanbases were pulling for each other on Saturday, as both Michigan and Michigan State are in the Sweet 16 together for the first time ever:

The Wolverines and Spartans both capped off perfect weeks at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday, as Michigan trounced VCU by 25 points hours before MSU blasted Memphis by 22.

Michigan and Michigan State fans sat side-by-side inside The Palace for both games, and at times, it almost felt like they were pulling for one another.

"I was surprised today," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "I said I was pulling for everybody (in the Big Ten) today, and I didn't think the fans would either way -- but I felt like it was almost that way.”

Both teams from the state of Michigan are proving that they belong in the discussion as a potential champion this postseason. While both teams would likely have to knock off a top team to make it to the Final Four, the prospect of a Michigan vs. Michigan State finale is enticing.

Considering the way both teams played today, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Take a look at the bracket. Depending on the results of Duke vs. Creighton and Saint Louis vs. Oregon, Michigan State could have an easier road to the Final Four than it initially expected in the Midwest “region of death.” The same can be said of the South Region for Michigan. If Big Blue gets past either Kansas or North Carolina and makes its way into the Elite 8, the Wolverines could find themselves with a less daunting matchup on the other side to make their way to the Final Four.

Talent is something that neither team lacks, that’s for certain. Michigan, in addition to star guard Trey Burke, has the likes of Glenn Robinson III, Mitch McGary, and Tim Hardaway Jr. on the roster (all of whom scored at least 14 points in today’s win over VCU). The Spartans have their own talented core to compete with the Wolverines: Keith Appling (13.6 ppg), Gary Harris (12.8 ppg), Adreian Payne (10.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg), and Derrick Nix (9.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg).

If somehow, some way the Spartans and Wolverines meet for the 2013 National Championship, college basketball fans could be in for something truly special.